Normal-sized ventricles and absence of papilledema do not rule out shunt failure and raised intracranial pressure (ICP). Raised ICP can present with false localizing signs which may be cranial nerve palsies or extensive polyradiculopathy. Our patient with a history of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt presented with rapidly progressive vision loss without papilledema, as well as multiple cranial nerve palsies and radiculopathy. Imaging did not reveal hydrocephalus, however, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) manometry revealed high CSF opening pressure. After lumbar thecoperitoneal shunting, vision did not improve, but the rest of cranial nerve palsies and radiculopathy improved. In a patient in whom VP shunt is in situ, headache and vomiting should prompt evaluation for raised ICP though there is no ventriculomegaly of papilledema. Vision can be saved if raised ICP is suspected, CSF opening pressure measured at presentation and prompt surgery is performed.
Keywords: False localizing signs; raised ICP-raised intracranial pressure; shunt failure.
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